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[reparator]

Who: Cerealians from all over!
When: Various
Where: Various
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GENERAL OVERFLOW
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[goodtome]

[He glances down at the hand she squeezes, so surprised his brain stutters to a stop for a second.]

What? Oh, ah. I... don't remember. I'm sorry. I guess I-

[Got lost in an old traumatic moment is the truth, but hardly the right response to give to someone he's only just met.]

I'm still a little lost here, too.

[And now his face feels hot, too. He hopes it isn't pink. He's never been as good as he'd like at hiding moments of weakness.]

[corona]

[ That's concerning - though on the one hand she also can't help feeling reassured; being the only one who's new to this place has, thus far, been an exercise in unsteadiness.

In the end, though, she laughs. ]

I guess that's what I get for forcing you into this question game huh? Sorry. I didn't mean to - confuse you. [ STUPID STUPID ah why is this socialisation thing is so hard ]

[goodtome]

I don't mind.

[It's been an awfully long time since Armin's played a game with anyone, honestly. Even if this one is making his face burn for reasons he can only half understand, it's... nice. Just talking to someone about ridiculous things feels nice.]

How old are you?

[It's fair to take a new question at this point, isn't it?]

[corona]

Eighteen. [ beat ] –No. Wait. Sorry. Technically I'm seventeen still...

[ If she notices anything strange about the interaction, it doesn't show. She hums, grasping for something good to ask. ]

...Whhhhhhy did you join the military? [ GOOD ONE - could be better, though. Next round will have to be something juicy. ]

[goodtome]

Are you in a hurry? [That's funny. But at least she's close, if that's the case!

The follow up question he takes more seriously, however.]

I didn't want to be helpless anymore. Mm, what's your name?

[She knows his after all, it's only fair.]

i mean i saw nothing at all

[corona]

Rapunzel. [ His is a good question too; she's impressed (she hadn't realised the absence of introduction at all - and she usually picks up on everything like that) and rewards him with a grin. ] What made you think you were helpless?

/facepalm

[goodtome]

[Oh! A name he can actually pronounce! That's the first he's heard here. It's an odd sort of relief.

He digs a toe into the muck at their feet anyway, not sure how to explain the feeling of being prey to someone else. What's more, it was always that way for Armin. Even before he'd ever faced down a single titan, he'd seen dozens of bullies rain down kicks and punches and spit and insults.

But how best to get all of that across? Armin considers his answer carefully.]

My friends were brave naturally. I'm still trying to learn how to be. Where are you from?

[Turnabout is fair play too, after all.]

[corona]

[ Ah, he'd make a good chess player, she imagines. This time, however, she'll hide her smile by turning away to watch one of the more dangerous looking frogs as it attempts climbing a tree. ]

Corona. It's... a kingdom. Though I'm not entirely sure where. And - anyway I don't know if you'll have heard of it where you're from, your - place. World. But--

Has it worked? Have you gotten more brave?

[goodtome]

I'm better at taking action.

[Fear doesn't seem to be something one can train away so far in Armin's experience. Having the training to react at least is much better than not, though.

It's no surprise either to hear that the name of the place she comes from is unfamiliar. That's what he was expecting, really. Aren't they all from kingdoms that are unknown to one another around here?]

So, what were you waiting for?

[And that, frankly, is not fair. But it's the only question she's dodged so far, which makes it the most interesting one.]

[corona]

[ Time won't have changed her intentions there; her dodge is more subtle this time, but it's still a dodge. ]

When was I waiting for something? Does that count as my question for you also? Does that?

[goodtome]

[It was worth a shot, though Armin laughs in surprise at the playful questioning about the questions. He covers his mouth afterward, surprised himself at the outburst. It's unusual for someone to make him laugh. Even with Eren, it's a rarity. But...it's nice. Even if she's clearly dodging his questions.]

I guess those can cancel out.

[corona]

[ Likewise, she's finding it shockingly easy to answer and generate questions without any reserve or fear. What's the worst that could happen? She makes a fool of herself? Probably that's already happened; he must think she's some kind of crazed, sloppy, strange-looking wild child. ]

Well. Since that answers the last. Wanna answer the first one anyway?

[goodtome]

When you had all the time in the world.

[That's all he knows of the answer to that. He wonders what it must feel like to wait for something, more than a few minutes, a few hours, a few days. His own life has been such a whirlwind that the longest wait he can think of is waiting to be rescued when acting as a decoy.

He wants to ask what the most beautiful thing in Corona was, or if she's ever killed a man with a tangle -only that won't be funny if the answer is somehow yes. He wants to ask what her favorite food is, because people here seem to have quite a lot of foods he's never even dreamed of.

Instead what comes out isn't even a question.]

That sounds lonely.

[corona]

[ And what she feels in response isn't even an emotion.

No, her reaction is more visceral: a cringe that starts in her face as she draws shoulders up, wincing, and recoils, bending over her stomach as if to protect it - and her - from any further harm. Any more painful truths. Loneliness of the kind she's lived isn't something you look at head on; you paint it, smile through it, dance around it. Kill the dark with sunshine.

Even if some sources of light need rest every once in awhile.

Rapunzel smiles and shakes her head, kicking a foot out in front of her and wiggling the toes absently. ] Some people would love to have all the time in the world... [ Her mother, for one. ] Many people probably. Time is... precious. Time is... is life.

[goodtome]

Then we measure time differently.

[Anyway, that's a very telling reaction. He was right, he supposes. There's more to her story than that as well, but...

They aren't laughing anymore. Maybe that sort of thing is always fleeting. It feels like it used to last longer, but it might be the sort of illusion that light gives in a reflection. Looking back, things stretch on for far longer than they ever really did. Even without all of the time in the world.]

[corona]

[ And silence goes on.

Until it doesn't. Until Rapunzel looks up and watches Armin for a few moments and then, contemplatively, allows her lips to curl in a smile. ] All right. Fine. But do you prefer telling time in twenty four hours or twelve?

[ Hey. It is a question. ]

[goodtome]

Do you use ante meridiem and post meridiem in Corona?

[That's interesting! It's very unexpected as well. Not to say that he's never heard of it-clearly he has, in fact, but he's never considered it a way of timekeeping that might meet a standard acceptance somewhere.

Oh, but it's still her question, isn't it?]

We don't. It's not very precise, is it? On documents, we're precise. Casually, it goes by the watches we keep. There are four at night.

[corona]

We do! [ She's glad he's willing to go along with her even after their painful, somewhat discomfiting pause and exchange. It makes her feel better about her decision to trust him with this - even if it is under the guise of a game already. ]

Four watches? [ That's interesting too! ] What for?

[goodtome]

[He'd like to say "titans" here. Even though that would require an explanation, and it's hardly a cheerful subject... the truth is, back when it was titans there were clearer lines. Now it isn't the monsters out in the dark that scare him.

He shakes his head, clearing the thought away physically. No, he'd better leave that topic alone for now.]

Anything suspicious. It's the only way for the majority to sleep soundly. What do you eat there?

[corona]

Anything we can get. It varies from season to season. [ Closing her eyes and humming.

She opens them. Taps him lightly on the head. ] Have you run into any friends from your world yet?

[goodtome]

[Hmm, does that mean food is scarce in her home as well? It isn't very descriptive, but he thinks he can get a little better from her if he asks a better question. Precision is the best way, isn't it?]

No. [A fib, but not a lie.] What's your favorite?

[corona]

Hazelnut soup.

[ ...beat. ]

--actually, I... I like eggs. And waffles. Breakfast foods. What language is it that you speak in your country? Your name sounds like...

[goodtome]

Sounds like what?

[He's honestly curious this time. Waffles are unfamiliar, eggs expensive but not exotic, but a choice of spoken languages sends a thrill up his spine.]

[corona]

Heh. My language. [ Having run into so many Japanese names and words it's a little surprising - welcome, though, in a chest-warming way - to find German here in the middle of it all. ] You're one of the few people not to say my name sounds strange too. [ with deliberate emphasis: ] Armin.